A standard approach to kitchen design was not an option for this glamorous open-plan living area. Instead, an intricate bar sits front of house, with attractive and practical kitchen space tucked in behind.

So much storage

Collaroy Kitchen Centre

This renovation included kitchen, laundry, powder room, with extensive building work.
Design ideas for an expansive transitional l-shaped home bar in Sydney with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, laminate floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Cayuga Avenue

M House Development

Design ideas for a transitional single-wall home bar in Chicago with no sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

93rd Street Kitchen Addition

Schloegel Design Remodel

The homeowner's wide range of tastes coalesces in this lovely kitchen and mudroom. Vintage, modern, English, and mid-century styles form one eclectic and alluring space. Rift-sawn white oak cabinets in warm almond, textured white subway tile, white island top, and a custom white range hood lend lots of brightness while black perimeter countertops and a Laurel Woods deep green finish on the island and beverage bar balance the palette with a unique twist on farmhouse style.

Schroeder MN Lake Home

NORTH STAR KITCHENS

A modern rustic black and white kitchen on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. Complete with a French Le CornuFe cooking range & Sub-Zero refrigeration and wine storage units. The sink is made by Galley and the decorative hardware and faucet by Waterworks. photo credit: Alyssa Lee

Flower Mound Transitional Modern

Urbanology Designs

Butler's Pantry
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley home bar in Dallas with no sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Grosse Pointe Farms Custom Kitchen Remodel

MainStreet Design Build

The wet bar includes a built-in wine cooler and a highlight in this stunning kitchen renovation is the ceiling hung glass and metal shelving unit that is truly a piece of art.

Modern Nantucket

AsterHouse Design, LLC

Design ideas for a beach style single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, dark hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Box Beams

Manomin Resawn Timbers

Inspiration for a transitional wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, carpet, grey floor and brown benchtop.

Barrington Retreat

KED Interiors

A custom home bar is always a great addition. From the walnut wood cabinets to the built-in beverage fridge, this is the perfect little space.
Design ideas for a transitional single-wall home bar in Chicago with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Great Hills Remodel

Kelley Design Group

Midcentury home bar with medium wood built-ins.
Inspiration for a transitional single-wall home bar in Austin with recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback and black benchtop.

Custom Wet Bars

Zawadski Homes Inc.

Sleek, contemporary wet bar with open shelving.
Photo of an expansive contemporary l-shaped wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Newton NH - Custom paint by Sherwin Williams

Plaistow Cabinet

Shiloh Cabinetry, Custom paint by Sherwin Williams - Peppercorn. Yes, that's the fridge! Our favorite part of the kitchen... a coffee and wine bar! The devil is in the details!

Dutch Colonial Charm

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

Combination wet bar and coffee bar. Bottom drawer is sized for liquor bottles. Joyelle West Photography
This is an example of a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Boston with an undermount sink, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors, subway tile splashback, brown benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Mayfair Residence

LD&A

Photo of a transitional single-wall wet bar in Calgary with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor, marble benchtops, marble splashback and white benchtop.

Bar

R|House Design Build

This bar is perfect for entertaining family and friends. Fully equipped with with a keg for the adults and a root beer keg for the kids! The herringbone wood ceiling really warms up the feel of the bar!

Wyckoff Brick Colonial Wet Bar

JK interior living

Inspiration for a small traditional single-wall wet bar in New York with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback and subway tile splashback.

Park Avenue Apartment in Rosario Candela Building

Studio 511

The butler's pantry is lined in deep blue cabinets with intricate details on the glass doors. The ceiling is also lined in wood panels to make the space and enclosed jewel. Interior Design by Ashley Whitakker.

Palisades Riviera

Jackson Paige Interiors, Inc.

William Hefner Architecture, Erika Bierman Photography
Design ideas for a transitional seated home bar in Los Angeles with dark hardwood floors, white splashback, stone slab splashback, brown floor and grey benchtop.

African Wenge and Metal

Joseph and Curtis Custom Wine Cellars

CONTEMPORARY WINE CELLAR AND BAR WITH GLASS AND CHROME. STAINLESS STEEL BAR AND WINE RACKS AS WELL AS CLEAN AND SEXY DESIGN
Photo of a large contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in New York with dark hardwood floors, glass benchtops, white splashback, brown floor, black benchtop and open cabinets.

Home Bar Design Ideas with White Splashback and Yellow Splashback

A home bar can provide a spot of indulgence for one, or be a central hub you gather round when entertaining. Whether you’re thinking of planning a wine bar, outdoor bar, or just making room for a bar cart, browse these images for inspiration, and ask yourself the following questions.

Where should you position your home bar?

The most popular location for a home bar is in or near the kitchen or dining room. If you prefer entertaining outdoors, however, an outdoor bar can be a dream addition to any Aussie backyard – and imagine the luxury of swimming up to your very own pool bar! If you're building from scratch, a landscape architect can help you work out the ideal design for your space.

What type of home bar is best suited to your needs?

Home bars come in all shapes and sizes, and with an array of practicalities. Utilise an awkward corner with a cabinet bar; maximise floor space with a trunk bar, which unfolds to create a bar counter; or conveniently turn any space in your house into a bar room with a mobile bar such as a fun bar cart. If you prefer a more grandiose option, or all the amenities of a real bar, you can’t go past a built-in home bar.

What home bar functionalities do you want to include?

Decide how you will use the bar and whether you will need sinks, storage and refrigeration. Including a sink in your home bar design is a practical addition if you choose a location far from your kitchen. If you’re a wine connoisseur, you may want to include additional wine storage, whereas a mini bar fridge within the kitchen may need no extra storage at all. Home bars that will be used infrequently – perhaps an outdoor bar in the cooler months – may not need refrigeration and could suffice with large ice buckets.

What bar furniture will you need?

Seating is essential to any home bar and will impact the style of your home bar design. Bar stools, for example, come in an array of materials and styles, from traditional wooden bar stools, to resort- and industrial-style stools. Storage is another important element, so look for a liquor cabinet and wine racks. Next, if you are creating a freestanding station, you will need a bar table, which are taller and shallower than regular dining tables. Check that your stools and table height work together before you finalise any home bar designs.

How can you personalise your bar design?

Bar tools and accessories are an easy and interchangeable way to personalise your bar design. You may want to create a wine bar, tavern-style bar or retro bar, so look for wine glasses and tumblers, for instance, that will help carry this style. Coasters, bar mats or signage will help you to further achieve your desired look.